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Rabat – Morocco has achieved another historic milestone in football, with Nouhaila Benzina becoming the first player to compete in the FIFA Women’s World Cup while wearing a Hijab.
Talented defender Nouhaila Benzina was selected in Morocco’s starting lineup for the team’s second game in the tournament against South Korea.
Throughout the match in Adelaide, Benzina showcased her exceptional skills and played a pivotal role in securing Morocco’s first-ever victory at the Women’s World Cup.
The match concluded with a 1-0 win, with the Lionesses scoring their first goal in the competition’s history.
Benzina’s performance garnered international recognition. Assmaah Helal, the co-founder of the Muslim Women in Sports Network, expressed the importance of Benzina’s achievement, stating, “Girls will look at Benzina [and think] ‘that could be me.’
She added that policymakers, decision-makers, and administrators should explore what they need to do more to create accepting, open and inclusive spaces for women and girls to participate in the game.
Even before Benzina graced the pitch, she and her teammates had already made history.
The Moroccan squad broke new ground as the first Arab or North African nation to represent their region in the international competition.
Ghizlane Chebbak, the captain of the Moroccan team, expressed their sense of honor, saying, “We are honored to be the first Arab country to take part in the World Cup. We feel that we have to shoulder a big responsibility to give a good image, to showcase the achievements the Moroccan team has made.”
Following a 6-0 defeat in the opening game against Germany, Benzina was brought in to strengthen the team’s defense, and her presence made a significant impact in the subsequent match against South Korea.
